Low-intensity ultrasound inhibits melanoma cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo.

Purpose: To determine the effect of low-intensity ultrasound on cancer cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo.

Methods: In vitro, several cancer cell lines were exposed to low-intensity ultrasound at 0.11 W/cm for 2 min. Of the cell lines screened, melanoma C32 is one of the cell lines that showed sensitivity to growth inhibition by ultrasound and was therefore used in succeeding experiments. In vivo, under the same ultrasound conditions used in vitro, C32 tumors in mice were exposed to ultrasound daily for 2 weeks, and the tumor volumes were monitored weekly using sonography.

Results: In vitro, C32 cell growth was inhibited, attaining 43.2% inhibition on the 3rd day. In vivo, tumor growth was significantly inhibited, with the treated tumors exhibiting 2.7-fold slowed tumor growth vs. untreated tumors at week 2. Such inhibition was not associated with increased cell death. Several genes related to the cell cycle and proliferation were among those significantly regulated.

Conclusion: These findings highlight the potential of low-intensity ultrasound to inhibit tumor growth in a noninvasive, safe, and easy-to-administer way. In addition, this may suggest that the mechanical stress induced by ultrasound on C32 cells may have affected the intrinsic biomolecular mechanism related to the cell growth of this particular cell line. Further research is needed to identify which of the regulated genes played key roles in growth inhibition.